YEAR END: Films return to The State Theatre

The State Theatre of Boyertown began showing films again at the venue in May 2017, following a two year hiatus. The theatre officially reopened in October 2016 following major renovations.
Digital First Media File Photo

The State Theatre of Boyertown began showing films again at the venue in May 2017, following a two year hiatus. The first film shown was “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” The theatre officially reopened in October 2016 following major renovations.
Digital First Media File Photo

Boyertown >> Driving along Reading Avenue in Boyertown, passersby will see The State Theatre’s marquee changing weekly to announce the latest film releases. This has not always been the case; 2017 has brought films back to the State Theatre.

“We are booking in first run movies,” said Charles Haddad, president of The State Theatre Preservation Society, in a recent interview. “Little Boyertown State Theatre is getting first run movies the same day major chains are getting them.”

It was back in May when the theatre announced the installation of a new $100,000 digital projector complete with more than a dozen speakers, making headway to show films as well as host live performances.

“The tradition of movies in Boyertown began back in 1912 when the Lyric Theatre was built by George Unger, William Sabol, Newton Erb and William Schaeffer,” the The State Theatre Preservation Society announced in a statement. “The silent movies of 1912 are now the 21st Century hi-tech digital movies of 2017.”

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For the first time since its closure in 2015, the venue was ramping up to present a major motion picture. “Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” was selected as the first film to be shown with the new projector, with a showing held Friday, May 26. The titles have continued to rotate ever since.

Most recently, December has been a busy month at The State, with the showing of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and a special presentation of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in celebration of the holiday season.

Haddad said student groups from the high school have reached out to the theatre about private events.

“We want to build on that — whether it be a monthly event for the students or quarterly. It’s a safe environment for them.”

The theater officially reopened in October 2016 following major renovations, which included the addition of air conditioning and new electrical wiring. Steve Maguire of West Chester purchased the theater in 2016, agreeing to lease it to the State Theatre Preservation Society, a nonprofit group formed by Haddad, for 20 years at $1 per year. A private event was held to celebrate the reopening and to honor the Maguire Family Foundation for dedicating the theater back to the community.

To find out what’s coming up at The State Theatre, visit its Facebook page or website at <boyertownstatetheatre.com>.